About the position
WMS Programme Manager - Supply chain and distribution systems
Role purpose
Lead the implementation and stabilisation of warehouse management and connected supply chain systems across a large retail environment. Coordinate business and technology delivery so that distribution centres can support store replenishment and online fulfilment while maintaining inventory accuracy and service continuity.
Key responsibilities
• Own the integrated programme plan, budget, dependencies and delivery governance across WMS workstreams, distribution sites and external delivery partners.
• Coordinate receiving, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, dispatch and stock control requirements with distribution centre and supply chain leaders.
• Manage interfaces with merchandising or ERP systems, transport, online fulfilment and third parties. Establish ownership of data and reconciliation controls.
• Govern solution delivery, data cleansing and migration, integration testing, operational acceptance and training with accountable workstream leads.
• Lead cutover planning, rehearsals, site readiness and go live coordination. Present evidence and unresolved risks for sponsor decisions.
• Direct hypercare and stabilisation, prioritising failures that threaten stock accuracy, throughput, store availability or the customer delivery promise.
• Report progress and recovery plans to executive stakeholders and steering committees. Transfer knowledge and controls to operational support teams.
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Essential experience and capabilities
• At least seven years of retail experience, with a proven record of delivering relevant programmes or major systems implementations.
• Direct experience leading WMS implementation in a distribution centre or warehouse environment, including deployment and stabilisation.
• Strong supply chain understanding across warehouse operations, inventory control, retail replenishment and systems integration.
• Evidence of managing business, technology and vendor teams across interdependent delivery workstreams.
• Practical experience with cutover, data migration, test readiness, operational risk, budget control and executive governance.
• Ability to resolve delivery problems on site and explain operational consequences clearly to senior stakeholders.
Preferred experience and capabilities
• Online fulfilment, imports, last mile delivery, control tower or third party logistics integration experience.
• Experience taking over a live programme, recovering delivery or applying lessons from earlier rollout waves.
• A relevant qualification or programme management certification, supported by comparable delivery evidence.
Expected outcomes
• An executable programme plan with clear ownership, credible dependencies and visible delivery risks.
• Deployment decisions supported by tested processes, reconciled data and operational readiness evidence.
• Stable warehouse operations and an agreed handover, with service and inventory performance measured against approved baselines.
Desired Skills:
- Programme
- Manager
- WFM
